Just three months after taking the job, Smashing Pumpkins [ tickets ]' manager Sharon Osbourne has brashly and publicly tendered her resignation. Osbourne's departure comes as the Pumpkins prepare for the Feb. 28 release of a new album titled "MACHINA/the machines of God."

Said Osbourne in a statement issued yesterday (1/11): ''It was with great pride and enthusiasm that I took on management of the Pumpkins back in October, but unfortunately I must resign today due to medical reasons--Billy Corgan [ tickets ] was making me sick!!!''

The brief statement continued with compliments for Corgan's bandmates, as Osbourne said that she is ''saddened that she will no longer be working with such great and talented people as James Iha, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Jimmy Chamberlain. I wish them much love.''

The band issued no immediate comment on Osbourne's departure.

Osbourne's clients includes her husband, Ozzy, as well as Coal Chamber. She was hired by the Pumpkins after the band conducted a nearly year-long search after breaking with Q Prime management.

''Billy talked to every manager in the industry, I think, and he liked me best,'' Osbourne told the Los Angeles Times last year. ''And I can't blame him.''

Smashing Pumpkins, who opened what is being billed as an 18-month world tour last week, is currently touring in Europe. The band hasn't announced any North American dates.

''MACHINA'' fulfills Smashing Pumpkins' commitment to the Virgin label. The band escaped its long-term contract with Virgin in March of 1998 after citing a California statute limiting personal service contracts to seven years. In November, the Pumpkins announced that Auf Der Maur had joined the band, replacing longtime bassist D'Arcy Wretzky.